Finance Director

Finance Director

The Finance Director serves as the chief financial officer and key fiscal advisor to the City Manager, Mayor, and City Commission. This position manages financial operations, ensures the fiscal stability of the City, and safeguards public assets through robust internal controls, audit compliance, and multi-year financial strategy.

Acting as both a strategic leader and an operational manager, the Finance Director provides hands-on administrative oversight over all core financial divisions and responsibilities -- including audit compliance, budget preparation, pension administration, accounting, procurement, grants, and utility billing and customer service. The position balances technical precision with clear communication, ensuring the City maintains long-term financial resilience while adhering strictly to principles of citizen service, public transparency, and open government. Advises the City Manager and elected officials on financial condition, budgetary matters, financial risks, policy alternatives, and long-term fiscal sustainability.

This picturesque community, featuring 2.5 miles of white sandy beach near the bustling City of Jacksonville, has over 65 acres of parks and a small-town community that provides a friendly, supportive workplace with a focus on providing outstanding customer service to residents, visitors and employees. City employees enjoy excellent benefits, competitive pay and outstanding opportunities for training and advancement.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Budgeting, Capital Planning, and Financial Strategy

• Strategic Budget Preparation: Lead the formulation, administration, and presentation of the annual operating budget and ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the City Manager and City Commission.
• Long-Range Forecasting: Develop dynamic multi-year financial models and optimal financing strategies for capital acquisitions, ensuring all expenditures serve a public purpose and comply with state laws.
• Debt and Capital Markets Management: Consult and coordinate with financial advisors, bond counsel, legal advisors, and investment managers regarding bond issuances, debt structures, and treasury operations.

2. Audit Compliance, Accounting, and Internal Controls

• Accounting Standards and Internal Controls: Direct all municipal accounting procedures and financial policies in strict compliance with GAAP, GASB, and federal, state, and local regulations.
• Audit Readiness and Reporting: Oversee the preparation of monthly financial reports and the City's Annual Financial Statements/Audit Report, maintaining a continuous, year-round culture of internal control and audit compliance.
• External Audit Coordination: Manage relations with external auditors to protect public funds, mitigate organizational risk, and consistently secure clean, unmodified audit opinions.

3. Team Supervision and Departmental Operations

• Personnel Management: Directly supervise and mentor professional and operational staff across all departmental divisions and responsibilities -- including Accounting, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Purchasing, and Utility Billing and Customer Service -- establishing performance goals and workflows.
• Systems Modernization and Optimization: Provides functional leadership for the City's enterprise resource planning (ERP) and financial management systems, including system governance, access controls, reporting, upgrades, testing, and user support and ongoing optimization of financial software, to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
• Process Simplification and Cross-Departmental Support: Review organizational patterns and work relationships to promote effective operations through standardization; collaborate with operational department heads to assist with budget management.
• Pension Plan Administration: Direct the activities of the pension boards and manage pension plan administration.

4. Public Transparency and Citizen Service

• Financial Communication: Translate complex financial reports, millage adjustments, and fund balance details into clear, accessible formats for elected officials, media, and residents.
• Customer-Centric Operations: Maintain continuous oversight of customer-facing functions (utility billing, fee collection, resident inquiries), ensuring services are prompt, courteous, and transparent.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

This position is designated as a "Response" classification under the City's Emergency Operations Plan. The employee may be required to work before, during, or after declared emergencies; maintain emergency financial controls and documentation; support cost recovery and reimbursement activities; and complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) training at the level designated by the City.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with regular attendance required at evening City Commission meetings, budget workshops, and emergency management activations.
• Occasional site visits to city facilities, utility customer service locations, and ongoing project sites across Atlantic Beach.
• The position requires regular use of a computer and other office equipment; sustained attention to detailed financial information; frequent speaking, hearing, reading, and keyboarding; and occasional standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting or carrying materials weighing up to approximately 20 pounds. The employee may be required to attend evening meetings, work extended hours during budget preparation, audit, system implementation, emergencies, or other critical periods, and travel locally for City business. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• Education: (Required) Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or a closely related field. (Preferred) Master's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (MBA / MPA).
• Experience: (Preferred) Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, municipal accounting, or public sector budgeting, including substantial supervisory experience managing professional personnel.
• Certifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license preferred. Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO/GFOA), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), or related professional credential is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Governmental Accounting and Audit Compliance (Required): Deep knowledge of GAAP, GASB standards, internal controls, and municipal audit procedures, alongside experience overseeing annual financial statement preparation.
• Strategic Budgeting and Capital Planning (Required): Advanced skill in developing multi-year operating budgets, ten-year Capital Improvement Plans, and financial forecasting models.
• Supervisory and Team Leadership (Required): Demonstrated ability to direct, mentor, and evaluate professional and administrative staff across diverse financial and operational divisions.
• ERP and Systems Optimization (Required): Practical skill in directing financial management software implementations, system modernizations, and process simplification.
• Strong Writing and Financial Reporting (Required): Proficiency in translating technical fiscal data into clear, persuasive administrative reports, policy memos, and Commission presentations.
• Municipal Governance and Florida Law (Preferred): Knowledge of Florida municipal finance laws, public procurement standards, Florida Sunshine Law, and public records requirements (Chapter 119, F.S.).
• Public Speaking and Transparency (Preferred): Ability to effectively explain financial data and fiscal policy during public Commission meetings, budget workshops, and citizen forums.
• Grant and Pension Administration Compliance (Preferred): Knowledge of public grant accounting, compliance tracking, and municipal pension board operations.

***This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be a complete inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Duties and organizational assignments may be modified as operational needs, laws, technology, and professional standards change.